My Severn Valley Alpacas Experience

Last Friday me & my friend were stumped for things to do near us. We wanted to find something unique that we had never done before at an affordable price, and it had to be outdoors. After a hefty research session on Thursday evening, we came across Severn Valley Alpacas.

We fell in love with pictures of the alpacas, happily roaming in the fields from the website and it was only a half an hour’s drive away from where we lived. Alpaca and Llama treks had been etched into my bucket list for a while but I’d always assumed it would be too expensive, especially for something so last minute! But here we were staring at what looked like an adorable experience that was local and affordable to us.

As we were looking at off-peak times, we had a wide range of time slots to choose from. We wanted to avoid the terrible July rain we’ve been having recently, so we booked for in 10:30.

The farm itself is tucked away behind a few narrow country lanes in the heart of Bridgenorth’s countryside.

As we were fairly local, I drove us there and the journey was pretty easy. There were a few fast roads and a good sprinkle of country lines. The country lanes were fine but there are one or two very narrow ones as you get nearer to the farm. The lanes were very quiet, so it wasn’t stressful. It took us about 30 minutes for Wombourne.

One of the things we had really looked into was parking so we were relieved to find that there was a free onsite car park with room for about 8 cars. Once we got out of the car, it was a 30-second walk down to the farm.

As soon as we parked up we followed signs down to the farm. After a 30-second walk, we arrived at a large gate with a clear view of the adorable alpacas. We stood there briefly looking at the herd and appreciating the beautiful views of the countryside that surrounded us. We could see endless green hills, high clouds, and rays of sun slithering through gaps in the sky. It was the perfect setting for an outdoor experience.

It was only a minute before we were greeted by Andrew and Lorraine Basset – the husband and wife team of the Severn Valley Alpacas. After saying hello, Lorraine returned to her current guests who were sitting at the picnic benches, working their way through treats and sipping on cups of tea. Andrew instructed us to enter the farm from the side entrance and after another short walk, we were in!

With our eyes panning to all of the lovely alpacas we headed towards Andrew to shake his hand. We were met with a warm smile and an instant enthusiasm to meet us and get to know us. After 5 minutes or so of introductions, Andrew started talking to us about the nature of alpacas and what makes them such wonderful animals…

Alpacas come from the same family as camels and llamas but they are very different in their nature. Alpacas are slightly smaller and have a much more tranquil temperament. He explained that llamas and camels have a tendency to spit and kick as they are more aggressive, especially when they feel threatened. They are not very sociable when it comes to humans either. Alpacas on the other hand love human interaction. They enjoy being stroked, fed, and strolling by humans. They do not kick directly at you or spit at you.

Alpaca wool is very expensive and is the second most valuable wool, under cashmere. This is because alpaca fibres are wonderful insulators and are super durable. Like cashmere, you can wear alpaca garments in whatever the weather as they keep you cool in the sunshine and warm in colder temperatures. This is because alpacas are naturally high-altitude animals. Their coats can protect them from the cold (especially at night) and strong heat (during the day).

Alpacas come from South America! They originated from Peru, Chile and Bolivia.

Alpacas don’t smell! Their woolly coats and genetics just won’t allow for any stench and this is because they have anti-bacterial qualities. They can ‘moisture manage’ while also regulating their temperature very well. They also have excellent instincts to live in clean surroundings and they even go to the toilet in the same area so that waste is kept in one place.

Once we spent 15 minutes learning about these fascinating creatures we were then led into the pens on the alpaca farm!

As we entered we had to step onto this squidgy green square that was soaked in liquid. We were advised to do this as it was to protect us and the animals against diseases. After a quick few steps on the square, we went in.

Once we were inside Lorraine joined us. Andrew and Lorraine told us about which alpacas were which and what needs they had. One of the alpacas had specific needs and enjoy his food separately from the others. Some of the alpacas were brothers and sisters, others were moms and daughters. There were three new arrivals that week who we could recognise as they had long mop-like woolly coats in comparison to the rest of the herd that was freshly cut.

They all had funny names like Dave and Eddie, Aladdin, and Elsa. Andrew and Lorraine had excellent knowledge of every alpaca on the farm and there must have been about 20 altogether! They knew everything from their age to their personality, their family members and their diets, you could tell these alpacas were in the best hands possible.

The pens were separated into two, one for the females and the other for the boys. There were more boys than girls and all of them were different colours and sizes. Some of the DofE students working on the farm gave us a small feeding shovel each. It look like a dustpan and was about the same size. We had one each and the teenagers carried around big plastic buckets full of food.

As soon as the rustling of food could be heard the alpacas formed a close-knit huddle with long bobbing necks heading directly towards us. We felt their soft heads as their gentle eyes fluttered. I stroked their long necks and they leaned up against us while they waited for their food. They reminded me of fuzzy teddy bears. I was surprised at how much smaller they were than I thought too.

Anyway – back to the food! As we were given food to feed them, we were told what was in it and why it was so good for them. It was mostly a mixture of bananas and vegetables mashed up together. The smell of bananas was very strong which was a pleasant surprise as you always imagine animal food to be quite smelly.

Feeding is really where all the fun is. As soon as we got food on our trays they plunge their heads straight into them, nudging each other as they quickly scoffed their treats. We went round all of the pen making sure each alpaca had had some of the food we were giving them. One or two eager ones followed us around the pen and the newest arrivals stayed back. As Andrew and Lorraine said to us before, the newbies will be standoffish as they are still adjusting to their surroundings.

Feeding is the perfect opportunity to stroke and cuddle these animals. While they are mesmerised by the food you can get a really good look at them. It was magical for two young adults so I can’t imagine how magical it would be for small children and teens.

In the female alpaca pen, we were warned that one alpaca, in particular, gets protective over the other females and as soon as we entered to say hello, she came straight to us, as if to say “Can I help you?” Once we had food in our trays, however, she was happy for the other female llamas to approach us.

Lorraine told us that a few of the llamas were actually pregnant! While she told us the details of each pregnancy I found myself daydreaming about how cute a baby alpaca would look! We asked lots of questions about alpaca pregnancies, including the big one… “how do they come out?” She explained that alpaca pregnancies take 1 year and when an alpaca is giving birth they can often be strolling the fields with the head hanging out of them… Sounds like the most chilled-out mom ever right? Birthing is pretty quick from this point.

When we had originally booked it was for the short trek only but I’m glad we did the feeding as well as it was a chance to get super close to the animals while also learning cool facts about them.

I initially thought the short trek would be 30 minute trek through the hills but it was 2 laps around the pen enclosure. I think this experience would be better for children than adults due to its duration and distance.

Anyhoo, it was still a lovely experience to have had and we carried on chatting to Lorraine the whole way round. She told us about all the different people that come to the alpaca farm.

While we soaked in the stunning views next to our beloved alpacas (they were brothers BTW – how adorable!) we learned that the farm is especially important to SEN children. Alpacas are very calming animals and offer therapeutic qualities to those with learning difficulties, mental health issues, children with unstable home lives, and those who are suffering from terminal illnesses.

Recreation activities like these have deeply positive effects on the mental well-being of a person. So if you are struggling or you know someone who is struggling with physical or mental illness, it could be worth spending an hour or two at the farm.

After our trek, our visit was finished… *cries*

Once our experience on the farm was finished, Lorraine directed us to the handwashing station next to the blue picnic bench. Once we thoroughly washed our hands we headed for the picnic bench.

On the picnic bench was a basket of goodies. As part of your alpaca experience, you can get a beverage and eat a few snacks – this is a nice touch for families and young kids. Tuck into everything from biscuits, brownies, crisps and other popular snacks. I had a smarties brownie and so did my friend. And for the drinks, you could choose from a classic cuppa, coffee, squash or water.

While we chowed down on treats we sat peacefully, staring out the rolling countryside. Lorraine and some of the volunteers sat with us and chatted.

All in all, we had a lovely time meeting fascinating animals and chatting away with Andrew and Lorraine.

We originally booked for the short trekking activity but ended up feeding the alpacas as well. We thought it was £10 for the short trekking activity but when we arrived we were told that is £10 for adults who are accompanying children. So we ended up paying £15 instead. This price included 1 hour of feeding, walking + snacking.

Yes! I would definitely go again, especially with my family members but I would book a longer experience like the Alpaca Countryside Trail Trek.

We had a wonderful time meeting the gentile animals and chatting away with Andrew and Lorraine. From start to finish we felt looked after, engaged and we had fun. We also learnt a few interesting facts too!

So now you’ve heard my first-hand account, let’s jump into what experiences you can book for yourself and your family…

• Duration: 1 hour
• Maximum of 6 alpacas
• Price: Adults and children over 12 years old – £20.00
  Carers go FREE OF CHARGE (work ID required – see our Terms and Conditions)
  Children between 3-12 years old – £10
  Children under 3 years old – FREE OF CHARGE

• This is group/private booking activity
• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Maximum of 6 Alpacas
• Price: Adults and children over 12 years old – £40.00
  Carers go FREE OF CHARGE (work ID required – see our Terms and Conditions)
  Children between 3-12 years old – £20
  Children under 3 years old – FREE OF CHARGE

• Meet beautiful alpacas and feed them.
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Maximum of 6 people in a group
• Price: Adults and children over 12 years old – £20.00
  Carers go FREE OF CHARGE (work ID required – see our Terms and Conditions)
  Children between 3-12 years old – £10
  Children under 3 years old – FREE OF CHARGE

Book your own private picnic table for 1.5 hours. We have several available, all in quiet private spots. You will be able to observe the Alpacas and numerous wildlife in the beautiful countryside, secure in the knowledge that you are outside in the fresh air, in your own private safe spot.

• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Cost: £15.00 per table
  Or £10.00 when booked with an experience or trek. The price is adjusted automatically at check-out when combined with another service.

Fun fact, Lorraine is not only in charge of a successful alpaca farm but she is also a nurse. Both Lorraine and Andrew know how important animal experiences are for those with learning difficulties, mental illness, and terminal illnesses so wellbeing sessions offer a therapeutic escape.

These visits are particularly suitable for the following (but not exclusively):
– Children with special educational needs
– Recently bereaved
– Those with post-traumatic stress disorder
– Anxiety and mental health issues
– Learning disabilities
– Recovery from illness
– Depression
– Dementia
– Physical disability
– General wellbeing

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my first-hand experience at the Severn Valley Alpacas. If you’re a family from the West Midlands or you are looking for a quirky date idea, I highly recommend the family-run, Severn Valley Alpacas experience.